19-Oct-2010Source: Aviation Business
The European helicopter manufacturer is well into the delivery phase of 18 Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters and 42 MRH90 helicopters for the Army. But the two imminent opportunities are Phases 7 and 8 of the ADF’s Project Air 9000.... Read more
19-Oct-2010Source: AP
Federal agents allege they have evidence an Oregon defense contractor sold phony replacement parts to the military that could cause attack helicopters to crash.... Read more
19-Oct-2010Source: AVE
Warsaw Institute of Technology Air Force has developed its own version of the upgrade cockpit in multi-purpose Mi-8 and Mi-17 as well as the Mi-24... Read more
19-Oct-2010Source: Plano Brasil
Helibras signed the first contracts with Brazilian suppliers to supply parts of the EC725 for the Armed Forces on Monday. The contractors are InbraAerospace, a manufacturer of parts in composite materials, and Toyo Matic, which produces machined parts for the aviation industry.... Read more
19-Oct-2010Source: Vector Aerospace
Vector Aerospace Corporation (Vector – www.vectoraerospace.com), one of the world’s leading independent providers of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul services welcomed Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton RAF to its Fleetlands facility on Monday 11 October. The Chief of the Air Staff visited Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services to present a select group of Vector personnel... Read more
18-Oct-2010Source: Straits Times
The emergency landing of the Apache at Woodlands last month was caused by corroded valves in the aircraft’s engines. Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean revealed the outcome of the investigations into the incident in Parliament on Monday.... Read more
18-Oct-2010Source: Safe Flight
Safe Flight Instrument has begun delivery of its Powerline Detection System (PDS) to Enstrom for installation on three Enstrom 480B model helicopters scheduled to be supplied to the Royal Thai Army in the first quarter of 2011. The addition of Safe Flight’s Powerline Detection System was a key component in the contract award to provide... Read more
18-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $6,313,475 order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00421-06-G-0006) for the integration of operational flight programs for the Communication, Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/AQTM) Program and automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) on the H-53 series aircraft. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,... Read more
18-Oct-2010Source: Press-Register
With work expected to begin before year’s end, Vector hope to move in mid-2011. The company has benefited from its proximity to military helicopter bases, as they act as a subcontractor for L-3 Communications to repair U.S. Navy TH-57 helicopters based at Whiting Field, near Milton, Fla.... Read more
17-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
Goodrich Corp., Sensors and Integrated Systems, Vergennes, Vt., is being awarded a $5,765,474 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0298) for the procurement of 19 MH-53 integrated mechanical diagnostic and health usage monitoring system units. Work will be performed in Vergennes, Vt., and is expected to be completed in September 2011. Contract funds will... Read more
17-Oct-2010Source: Engineering News
I’m not happy with the likely budgeting for flying hours for the next financial year,†affirms Lt-Gen Carlo Gagiano. “To operate all the systems in the SAAF optimally, I need a bigger budget. But we must never stop exploring ways of doing things better and cheaper.â€... Read more
17-Oct-2010Source: Star Gazette
The Chemung County Industrial Development Agency on Thursday started the process to secure $2M in state grants to install a fire suppression system at the Wings of Eagles restoration hangar in Big Flats so Sikorsky can take over the former warplane museum’s buildings.... Read more
17-Oct-2010Source: Brisbane Times
The head of Eurocopter’s government programs, Dominique Maudet, says the Australian military insisted on installing external lighting above and beyond the requirements of the similar Tiger helicopters France has flown successfully in Afghanistan over the last year.... Read more
16-Oct-2010Source: AIN
Armed aerial scout helicopter (AAS) with the AW119 – Common Vertical Lift Support Program (CVLSP) with the AW139 – and the former Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) with the AW101... Read more
16-Oct-2010Source: Raytheon
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received two contracts totaling $115.7 million for the AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS), the primary undersea warfare sensor for the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R multimission helicopter. The contracts were awarded by Naval Air Systems Command and Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Strategic Acquisition. ALFS provides critical undersea warfare mission support capabilities,... Read more
15-Oct-2010Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the second AW159 multi-role military helicopter successfully completed its maiden flight at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility yesterday. During its maiden flight a range of general handling checks were completed and it performed as expected. The aircraft, designated TI2, is the second of three test aircraft that will... Read more
15-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
Lockheed Martin, Mission Systems and Sensors, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a $9,979,815 firm-fixed-price contract for specialized test equipment required to perform depot-level repairs to the MH-60 common cockpit avionics suite, including artisan training, two operator control panels, and one universal power supply tester. Work will be performed in Owego, N.Y., and is expected to... Read more
15-Oct-2010Source: DARPA
To meet much of transportation needs of today’s deployed Warfighter, either highly mobile multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV) are used, or helicopters, which have limited availability, are used. DARPA’s Transformer (TX) program seeks to combine the advantages of ground vehicles and helicopters into a single vehicle equipped with flexibility of movement. The concept is to provide... Read more
15-Oct-2010
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $17,668,830 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-07-D-0004) to exercise an option for the fiscal 2011 VH-3D/VH-60N executive helicopter special progressive aircraft rework effort. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed in September 2011. Contract funds in the... Read more
15-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pa., was awarded on Sept. 29 a $11,999,984 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The purpose of this delivery order is to perform 57,700 hours of engineering services support of CH-47F Chinook helicopter non-recurring engineering to include integration of engineering change proposals, product improvement, and other modifications to the CH-47F cargo helicopter. Work is... Read more
15-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on Sept. 29 a $34,587,928 firm-fixed-price contract. This procurement is for the exercise of an option to purchase three UH-60M aircraft for the Department of State. Work is to be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2012. One sole-source bid was solicited... Read more
15-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on Sept. 29 a $37,822,935 firm-fixed-price contract. This procurement is for the exercise of an option to purchase two UH-60M aircraft and one HH-60M aircraft for the Army. Work is to be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2012. One sole-source bid... Read more
15-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
The Boeing Co., Ridley Park, Pa., was awarded on Sept. 30 a $43,526,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The purpose of this contract modification is to exercise the option for two CH-47F new Chinook cargo helicopters,. Work is to be performed in Ridley Park, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2013. One bid was solicited... Read more
15-Oct-2010Source: Business Day
State-owned arms manufacturer Denel has completed the requirements for the certification of the Rooivalk attack helicopter but would require a further cash injection by the Department of Defence to make it fully operational, CEO Talib Sadiq said yesterday.... Read more
15-Oct-2010Source: API Technologies
API Technologies Corp. (OTC.BB: ATNY), a provider of highly engineered products and services to the global defense sector, announces that it has received a new, $1.7 million order from Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) of El Segundo, California. API will supply Raytheon SAS with engineering services and assemblies for the radar system incorporated within... Read more
14-Oct-2010Source: Boeing
he Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] is preparing to offer a solution based on the world record-setting A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft in response to the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command’s Request for Proposal (RFP) for Cargo Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Services. The RFP calls for government-owned, contractor-operated UAS services for the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan. In... Read more
14-Oct-2010Source: Sikorsky
STRATFORD, Conn.–Sikorsky Innovations, the technology development organization of Sikorsky Aircraft, has completed rig testing of a Hub Mounted Vibration Suppression system (HMVS), designed to eliminate vibration and deliver a smoother helicopter ride. The effort is jointly funded by Sikorsky and the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD). Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.... Read more
14-Oct-2010Source: US Coast Guard
Perseverance, dedication, grit, a desire to excel – these are all traits desired in a student aviator. Training in the aviation program for the maritime services is intentionally difficult to stress and push the students beyond their comfort zones so they can meet the hardships their service will entail. However, when that prospective pilot is... Read more
14-Oct-2010Source: US Coast Guard
Stranded 350 miles from land, the Element Quest spent days being tossed about in ten-foot seas – rudderless and out of radio range. Without an EPIRB, the only hope for the three sailors aboard was that their satellite phone call was heard and passed on to the Coast Guard. It is hard to imagine the... Read more
14-Oct-2010
The Blackhawk was conducting a routine training flight when one of the two engines experienced a mechanical problem.... Read more
12-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Wayne, N.J., was awarded on Sept. 24 a $19,400,000 five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is to procure AN/ASN-157 Doppler navigation set (National Stock Number: 6605-01-323-9061) to support single engine helicopter. Work is to be performed in Totowa, N.J., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2013.... Read more
12-Oct-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Further to our recent report of the Belgian Police air unit purchasing an MD902 Explorer to add to their existing fleet of three MD900s, we can now report it has been delivered. Dutch website Avia DejaVu reports it stopping at Groningen Airport yesteday en its delivery route from Odense to Melsbroek airport in Brussels. This... Read more
12-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
BAE Control Systems, Fort Wayne, Ind., was awarded on Sept. 27 a $10,722,175 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts. This contract is for Delivery Order 0001 for the pverhaul of the AH-64 control unit, Superv, Input (DECU) is for 100 units. The total dollar value of Delivery Order 0001 is $452.070. Work is to be performed in Fort Wayne,... Read more
12-Oct-2010Source: Royal Navy
Lynx helicopters from 847 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) have been helping to train Nigeria Armed Forces. As part of HMS Ocean’s embarked Squadrons they visited the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre (JMSTC) in Lagos while the ship visited the country. While HMS Ocean was berthed alongside, conducting diplomatic work, military training and out-reach work in... Read more
12-Oct-2010Source: Flightglobal
Bell Helicopter is building a new demonstrator aircraft to prove the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior can remain a viable, long-term option even as the US Army seeks a huge boost in performance.... Read more
12-Oct-2010Source: US Navy
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) — Sailors from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 Det. 2 forward-deployed to the U.S. Navy’s aviation unit in Bahrain have provided essential support to flooding relief efforts in Pakistan since these efforts began in early August. The HM 15 team logged more than 240 flight hours, evacuated 3,360 people to safety... Read more
12-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
BAE Control Systems, Fort Wayne, Ind., was awarded on Sept. 27 a $21,490,793 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract is for Delivery Order 0001 for the overhaul of the UH-60 control unit, Superv, and input (DECU) is for the quantity of 300 each. The total dollar value of Delivery Order 0001 is $1,361,650. Work is to be... Read more
12-Oct-2010Source: US Dept of Defense
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded an $11,655,079 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00421-06-G-0006) for services in support of the VH-60N presidential helicopter cockpit upgrade program. Services to be provided include incorporation of updated navigation performance area navigation software; terrain awareness warning system software; Mode 5 Level... Read more
12-Oct-2010Source: Frost & Sullivan
Conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have laid a strong foundation for significant growth in the U.S. military helicopter market. The U.S. military continues to acquire new helicopters and implement major upgrades to its existing fleet. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the U. S. Army’s aviation command may require a sum of $61 billion... Read more
12-Oct-2010
An explosion onboard a NATO helicopter has killed one person and wounded seven shortly after it landed at an outpost in eastern Afghanistan.... Read more
12-Oct-2010
Heavy landing on training flight... Read more
11-Oct-2010Source: Boeing
Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has submitted two bids to provide a full range of aviation services to the U.S. Navy in support of operations at Naval Test Wing sites in the United States. Boeing submitted bids for two separate contracts that will have an estimated combined value of $500 million to $600... Read more
11-Oct-2010Source: ABC
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel says he is not concerned that Australia’s attack helicopter fleet will not be ready for full combat until December 2012.... Read more
10-Oct-2010Source: Manawatu Standard
A team of 23 New Zealand pilots, technicians and crew members will travel to France from next month to begin training with the eight NH90 helicopters... Read more
10-Oct-2010Source: Shephard Group
AgustaWestland says it has made huge progress in improving the availability of the Portuguese Air Force’s Merlin fleet.... Read more
10-Oct-2010Source: Eurocopter Spain
The board of Eurocopter Spain has appointed Francisco Vergé Gracia as their new CEO, who will assume his new responsibilities on 1 November, the manufacturer said today. Verge occupied until the position of director of the Eurofighter program in Spain and has held various positions in management, production planning, control, marketing and sales in Spain,... Read more
10-Oct-2010Source: US Air Force
Establishing and maintaining solid working relationships with partner nations is a key mission element in the special operations community. This sometimes takes the form of providing needed training opportunities in order to level the ‘playing field’ and ensure better interoperability and capability with partner forces. One such need recently came in the form of night... Read more
10-Oct-2010Source: Eurocopter
The delivery of the 36th EC120 is an important milestone in innovative public-private partnership program, the French armed forces, modern, cost helicopter for training purposes, provides the. In the presence of Joseph Saporito, Executive Vice President Commercial Helicopters, and Jean-Louis Rotrubin, President & Chief Executive Manager of DCI and Helidax, the company took Helidax today... Read more
10-Oct-2010Source: The Helicopter Museum
The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset has secured another First for a UK aviation collection, with the addition of an ex-Italian Guardia di Finanza Agusta A109GdiF helicopter. The aircraft is the first all-Italian aircraft and second addition this year to the Museum’s helicopter collection. The helicopter was unveiled by UK Tourism Minister John Penrose... Read more
7-Oct-2010Source: Atlantis Systems
Atlantis Systems Corp. (nex:AIQ.H) announced today that its subsidiary – Atlantis Systems Eduplus (ASE) of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia – has signed a contract agreement with Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) as part of the Maritime Helicopter Project. Atlantis Systems is a globally recognized training integrator in the military and commercial aviation markets. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is... Read more
7-Oct-2010Source: MD Helicopters
Mesa, Arizona, October 5, 2010… MD Helicopters, Inc (MDHI) has announced the appointment of Gregory Gauer as Vice President of Supply Chain, reporting to Robert Molsbergen, President. Gauer brings with him a wealth of aerospace supply chain, production, inventory and operations management experience to the position. Most recently, Gauer was Interim General Manager at APPH,... Read more
7-Oct-2010Source: Sikorsky
The S-92® fleet of medium-lift helicopters has surpassed 250,000 flight hours since the first aircraft entered service six years ago, establishing a record pace for a commercial fleet of Sikorsky helicopters. The first production S-92 entered service in September 2004. Transport companies flying work crews to offshore oil and gas platforms account for 90 percent... Read more
6-Oct-2010Source: Defense News
Aside from a manufacturing deal, Sikorsky also is proposing to buy $1.3 billion worth of Turkish-made helicopter parts, set up a regional Black Hawk support base there and invest in a future Turkish project to build a light utility helicopter.... Read more
6-Oct-2010Source: AAR
AAR (NYSE: AIR) announced today that it has been awarded a task order to provide airlift services under the U.S. Transportation Command’s (USTRANSCOM) new long-term, multi-billion-dollar Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for rotary-wing airlift in Afghanistan. The task order has a one-year initial term with four one-year renewal options and is valued at approximately $450... Read more
6-Oct-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin have launched a microsite specifically for the MH-60R helicopter. [For those unfamiliar with the techical terminology, a microsite is a self-contained page or group of pages meant to supplement a larger website, and with its own distinctive website address]. In this case the website can be found at www.mh-60.com. This is... Read more
6-Oct-2010Source: US Air Force
On Oct. 4, 2010, the Afghan Air Force received delivery of four new Mi-17 V5 helicopters, bringing the current fleet to 31, sixof which are the latest V5 variant. This is part of a purchase of ten helicopters, which will be complete by the end of 2010. In a yet to be determined procurement, the... Read more
6-Oct-2010
An official statement confirmed four of the deaths and said the helicopter crashed after hitting a powerline. Military sources were later advising that the accident killed at least 25 soldiers... Read more
5-Oct-2010Source: Ministry of Defence
Flight Lieutenant William Wales completed his first Search and Rescue (SAR) shift this weekend as the co-pilot of the four-man crew of a RAF Sea King helicopter and performed his first rescue. The helicopter, call-sign ‘Rescue 122’, was from C Flight, 22 Squadron, which is based at RAF Valley on Anglesey, North Wales. The SAR... Read more
5-Oct-2010Source: Royal Navy
The summer period not only drew many crowds to Cornwall, but brought about several interesting jobs for the Search and Rescue crews of 771 Naval Air Squadron, based at RNAS Culdrose. In August alone, a total of 34 rescues were conducted – the busiest month of the year. On call 24 hours a day, every... Read more
5-Oct-2010Source: BBC
An Apache and a Sea King came close to hitting the much smaller drone spy aircraft – while it was being flown remotely by a soldier on the ground. The near collisions on Salisbury Plain in February involved the small Desert Hawk drone... Read more
5-Oct-2010Source: Boeing
Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency Aviation has awarded the company a three-year contract to manufacture spare main rotor heads for the U.S. Army’s fleet of Apache attack helicopters. The fixed-price contract calls for an initial 100 main rotor heads, at a value of $31 million, and allows for 50... Read more
5-Oct-2010Source: AVE
The visit of Republic of Bashkortostan’s President Rustem Khamitov to two engine manufacturing organisations recently said that they had every opportunity to become a major center for the production of helicopter engines in Russia. Photo shows a TV7-117V engine... Read more
5-Oct-2010Source: Saudi Gazette
Tenders involved PZL Swidnik with a $60 million contract to supply eight combat utility helicopters, and MD Helicopters with six night-capable attack helicopters worth $29 million... Read more
5-Oct-2010Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter will underscore its strong presence in the European multi-mission helicopter marketplace with the company’s participation at this week’s Helitech helicopter show and conference, being held October 5-7 at Cascais Airport in the Portuguese city of Estoril. The Eurocopter exhibit stand (booth no.214) is to include scale models of the EC635 and AS550 C3 Fennec... Read more
4-Oct-2010Source: defenceWeb
It takes 130 modifications on the Denel AH2A Rooivalk to turn the current fleet of 11 rotorcraft into a “Block 1F†standard aircraft and a further nine modifications to the aircraft’s ground support equipment... Read more
4-Oct-2010Source: Flight Global
Israel Aerospace Industries’ Panther/K-80 tiltrotor unmanned air vehicle is being evaluated by special forces from other countries... Read more
4-Oct-2010Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE:NOC) Europe-based air traffic management systems subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide a ground-to-air voice radio system for air traffic control operations at the MoD’s Camp Bastion airfield in Helmand Province, the main handling airfield for UK operations... Read more
4-Oct-2010Source: Heli-One
Heli-One, the world’s largest helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul company, is proud to announce that three 332M1/HKP-10B aircraft under modification for the Swedish Air Force (SAF) have been delivered ahead of schedule. “Congratulations to the Heli-One project team in Norway for delivering the ISAF project on target to our largest third-party customer Swedish Air Force,”... Read more
3-Oct-2010
Helicopter was on third and last day providing EMS support to the Rally Chaco. Descended after reported bird strike. Photos show the tail boom was broken, likely severed by the main blades... Read more
3-Oct-2010
It was taking a test flight after a regular maintenance check and was hovering when it crashed, the GSDF said.... Read more
2-Oct-2010Source: DHnet
The Belgian Government agreed Friday to purchase a used MD902 for the Politie (Belgian Police), adding to the three MD900s they already have... Read more
2-Oct-2010Source: Hartford Courant
Sikorsky Aircraft said Friday that it eliminated about 1 percent of the company’s global workforce due to weakness in the market for commercial helicopters. That amounts to about 200 jobs.... Read more
2-Oct-2010Source: Canadian Helicopters
Canadian Helicopters Income Fund (TSX: CHL.UN) (the “Fundâ€), the largest helicopter transportation services company operating in Canada, is pleased to announce that it has been advised it has been awarded additional work in Afghanistan by the United States Transportation Command (“USTRANSCOMâ€). This new contract, similar to previous awards, entails the movement of supplies and passengers... Read more
2-Oct-2010Source: Helitech
The Mayor of Cascais will officially open Helitech’s second exhibition in Portugal, which takes place next week from 5th to 7th October at Airport Cascais, near Estoril. Mr António d’Orey Capucho, the Mayor of Cascais, visited the event when it was first held in Portugal in 2008. The Mayor is expected to tour some of... Read more
1-Oct-2010Source: DSCA
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Sept. 29 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Sweden of 15 UH-60M BLACKHAWK Helicopters and associated parts, equipment and logistical support for a complete package worth approximately $546 million. The Government of Sweden has requested a possible sale of 15 UH-60M BLACKHAWK Helicopters, 34 T700-GE-701D General Electric... Read more